As one of the leading impact venture capitalists in Europe, Ananda raised €33 million more than originally planned with the support of the European Investment Fund (EIF), KfW Capital, Investcorp-Tages, Candriam, and several renowned family offices. First Closing The fund reached 65 million euros, well above the targeted 40 million euro mark.
Ananda Impact Ventures was founded in 2009 by Johannes Weber and Florian Erber. The VC invests in young companies seeking solutions to contemporary social challenges. The focus is on digital health, education, aging, the future of work, and sustainable consumption. Ananda focuses primarily on B2B companies and relies on startups that already have initial revenue and a business model.
Ananda: “12 years ago, the VC industry thought we were doing philanthropy”
The success in raising funds for the fourth Core Impact Fund demonstrates the market's interest in supporting startups that don't just talk about impact, but have firmly integrated it into their business models, the company said. Co-Founder Florian Erber emphasizes that the success of the fourth fund is proof that the myths surrounding impact investing are outdated:
"Twelve years ago, the VC industry thought we were practicing philanthropy. Today, our growth trajectory, the examples in our thriving portfolio, and the portfolios of other impact VCs demonstrate that we no longer need to provide proof of impact investing success. We've seen strong exits with high returns, such as the sale of Company Bike and Arbor Education. At the same time, other companies in our portfolio, such as Ororatech and IESO Digital Health, are becoming true global leaders in their respective fields, demonstrating that impact innovation and leadership can be combined with tangible, profitable financial results."
Ananda Co-Founder Johannes Weber added:
"Ananda Impact Ventures is a pioneer in impact investing. We have inspired many other funds and helped shape the spirit and era of a completely new investment style for society and the environment. We are now entering the phase of Impact Investing 2.0. This takes us a step further and will create true impact unicorns with the best founders. At Ananda, we see founders as visionaries, game changers, and a company's most important asset. This makes us the home for technology entrepreneurs with a big vision who want to create something outstanding—something for all of us."
KfW Capital: “It is not always easy to verify the impact”
The situation is similar Alain Godard, CEO of the European Investment Fund, said:
"Ananda Impact Ventures is a true pioneer with a strong track record in the growing impact investing market in Europe. Our third consecutive investment is a testament to the team's expertise in supporting impact-driven companies and delivering effective returns."
And Jörg Goschin, Co-CEO and Senior Managing Director of KfW Capital, says:
"It's not always easy to verify impact, as it's more individual and context-specific. That's why the work Ananda does is so important. Experience and a very stable team – that sums it up. In addition to the professionalism, what we particularly liked about Ananda was the authenticity of the partners and their impact mission."
